“The understanding of what an urban digital twin is – and what defines it – has varied widely until now,” explains Dr Stefan Trometer, Managing Director at Virtual City Systems. “For the first time, DIN SPEC 91607 provides a clear definition and guidance for everyone involved.”

The specification introduces a standardized terminology, defines maturity levels, and offers concrete implementation recommendations. It establishes a structured foundation for scalable smart city solutions by outlining how to systematically link existing geodata, urban infrastructure, and municipal processes. Especially in the heterogeneous smart city landscape, this clarity fosters a shared understanding and improves collaboration between municipalities, technology providers, and planning teams.

In this interview, Dr Stefan Trometer shares insights into the development process of DIN SPEC 91607:

How was Virtual City Systems involved in its development?
“We were primarily involved in the use cases, as we bring extensive practical experience to the table. This allowed us to help shape areas such as urban simulation, urban planning, and system orchestration.”

What was the biggest challenge?
“The diversity of participants was both a strength and a challenge. Harmonizing different technical languages and perspectives took time – but it was essential.”

DIN SPEC 91607 provides cities and companies with a reliable and clearly structured framework for building digital twins. It enables the integration of complex 3D data and workflows via established solutions like VC Publisher, VC Map, or VC Planner. The result: consistent systems that support better decision-making in areas such as planning, environmental analysis, and citizen engagement.

“It’s a collection of insights from a range of disciplines,” says Trometer. “And it outlines tangible steps – which is especially valuable for municipalities just starting to work with digital twins.”

Virtual City Systems has already successfully implemented several applications and client projects aligned with DIN SPEC 91607 – for example in Rosenheim, Hof, Bremen, and as part of the Solar App. Standardization helped eliminate media discontinuities, streamline processes, and improve scalability.

“The further development of our products has also been strongly influenced by the work on the DIN SPEC,” Trometer adds. “We see it as our responsibility to actively contribute to standards that move the entire market forward.”

• Cities and administrations benefit from efficient planning workflows, cross-departmental collaboration, and a reliable basis for decision-making based on consistent 3D geodata.
• Large real estate operators, such as airports or industrial companies, use digital twins to optimize operations, planning, and internal communication.
• Energy and sustainability sectors gain new insights by analyzing solar potential, load peaks, or supply gaps more effectively – thanks to standardized data.

With solutions like VC Publisher, VC Database, VC Map, VC Planner, and the VC Solar App, Virtual City Systems provides proven tools that are fully aligned with the new standard.

DIN SPEC 91607 does more than define a shared language for digital twins – it enhances interoperability, lowers barriers to implementation, and increases investment confidence. As a co-developer, Virtual City Systems contributes its expertise to ensure the standard is not only theoretical, but also practically applicable.

“I’m convinced that sharing our knowledge allows others to benefit and avoid common mistakes. That’s what we aim for at VCS,” concludes Dr Stefan Trometer.